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For decades psychologists have studied why humans are reluctant to accept randomness as simply part of life, instead are inclined to believe that we can, at least to some extent, predict, influence, and control the world around us. Of course there are many, many aspects of life we can influence and control, but there are just as many we can’t, so we create mechanisms to deal with these. For millennia different societies have reacted to low or reduced personal control by strongly endorsing a belief in the existence and influence of external controlling powers. These feelings manifest themselves in many ways. The Aztecs made human sacrifices in the hope they would prevent earthquakes. The ancient Greeks built shrines to their gods in their homes, convinced that their gods would be angry and punish them if they didn’t. Today, you probably know someone who believes 9/11 was staged or who is convinced Covid is a hoax and vaccines are a scam perpetrated by ‘big pharma’. Psychologists believe that when randomness imposes itself on our lives we react by reintroducing order as we best understand it. This can manifest itself as simple superstitions, rituals or global conspiracy theories that draw us in. For some it’s easier to believe they are being threatened by evil scientists than by a naturally mutating virus they can neither control nor see. This is called compensatory control. I’m guilty of this. My first thought on Wednesday evening as I saw the Rangers side enter the pitch at St Mirren was ‘we never play well in white socks’. I was right. Rangers should always wear black socks with red tops, everyone knows we play better in them, that’s a sacred cow in my belief system. I’ve had a few of these over the years. I own about 5 Rangers scarves, but only my white bar scarf is lucky. Like thousands of others when I leave the stadium I must touch the top of the exit with my left hand, it’s very bad luck not too. Also, I never, ever leave a match early, if I did it would create a karma cataclysm I’m not sure the club could withstand. In the past I’ve found myself wearing the exact same clothing to match after match as clearly that particular sartorial combination was contributing to our good run of form. I’m not alone in this. I once knew a Hamilton Accies season ticket holder who followed them home and away. He missed two matches in a row through illness and Hamilton won them both. They lost the next match he attended and he and his friends agreed he was bringing them bad luck and he didn’t attend another match that season. Following Hamilton was a huge part of his life, but he knew his presence was causing them their problems that season. The major flaw with compensatory control however is that it’s not based in reality. I hope Rangers are wearing black and red socks again against Motherwell this weekend, but let’s be honest that wasn’t the reason we lost to St Mirren and it won’t have any bearing on Saturday’s result either, no matter what my addled mind might tell me nearer the time. I’ve watched Rangers lose far more matches in perfect black and red socks than I have in white ones. There’s a helplessness that comes with being a Rangers supporter currently. Actually being present at a match provides some level of tangible contribution. I might not be able to control the midfield from a seat in the enclosure, but I can shout obscenities at the opposition right back that he can actually hear, so that’s almost the same thing, right? Watching all of our matches on TV just underlines how little control I actually have. The dog has learned to go to another room so she’s not startled by my random volcanic outbursts following a misplaced pass or over hit cross. My Rangers impotence is very real this season. Saturday’s match is a chance for our side to make amends. To show that Wednesday night was simply a slip, not a fall. Motherwell come to Ibrox in poor fettle, 3 straight losses and a draw in their last 4 matches is relegation form. Indeed, were it not for the awarding of Motherwell 6 points for two Covid postponed matches earlier in the season they’d be 3rd bottom, clearly the scientists behind the Covid conspiracy are based in post-industrial Lanarkshire. We last played them in late September when we ran out 5-1 winners. If you could pick opposition to play when you need to bounce back from a setback then this current Motherwell team is it. A struggling side, in poor form, at home; surely it’s just a question of how many we’ll score? But this is football and as we all know random, inexplicable things happen in football, things we can’t control or explain. How did last season’s Rangers side crumble in January after comprehensively beating Celtic at a full Parkhead at New Year? Why did we lose to St Mirren on Wednesday? Are Rangers mentally fragile, have sides finally figured out how to nullify our marauding style of play? Are we destined to become the Scottish version of Keegan’s Newcastle? I don’t think so. We learned on Wednesday that a 20 year old with only 4 first team starts in his entire career isn’t as effective as the first choice left back for Croatia. We also learned that Cedric Itten isn’t yet as good as Alfredo Morelos and that every Rangers starting 11 should have at least one of Jack, Davis or Kamara on the pitch. We also learned that lapses in concentration and weakly surrendering possession will see us punished. None of these things should come as a surprise to us though, we surely already knew this. Every manager in Scotland, including Motherwell’s, will be studying how St Mirren were able to frustrate us. As such I expect Barasic to return to left back and Kamara and Davis to the centre of our midfield. I’m not sure how badly injured Balogun is but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Helander make a return to the side either way. I think we’ll persevere with Itten, Kent and Roofe, but a start for Defoe wouldn’t be a big surprise either and Hagi must be due another chance soon too. Motherwell have two first choice picks for Scotland in their defence but will be without Hastie up front who is currently on loan from us. Motherwell will aim to frustrate us, close us down and try and prevent us playing our quick passing game. They’ll have taken heart from the St Mirren result, it’ll be interesting to see what we’ve taken from it. We can expect plenty of possession, we might need patience and resilience too. Rangers fans have been damaged by the events of the last few years. We got used to mentally preparing ourselves for the worst. It was easier that way when it inevitably happened. So the last 4 months of undiluted, high octane winning football were greedily enjoyed, momentarily quenching a burning desire to see Rangers return to the pinnacle of Scottish football. But I’m an addict and while I’ve greatly enjoyed my weekly hit of out-classing every opposition we’ve met, I need it to continue every week. I can’t go cold turkey, not at Christmas. In a year that’s carried more anxiety than any for decades football is not providing an escape, I find myself approaching a home match against a below average Motherwell side like it’s a cup final. When we last won the league, back in 2010/11, we lost 5 league matches, in 2008/09 we lost 4. Every side loses matches, it’s how they respond to them that matters. So far we’ve not lost a league match this season, yet the jitters have already set in with many in our support. One setback and we’re nervously watching through our fingers instead of sitting back and enjoying the ride. I suspect anything less than a victory on Saturday will cause psychological damage to the players and the support. While this side has a style and vim about it that Walter Smith’s sides could only dream of, it doesn’t yet have his side’s inner steel. It’s not a compensatory control to say we need that, every side that wants to win the league needs a strength and desire that’s greater than it’s opposition’s. Our manager knows better than most that one slip in the league can define a season, this weekend is not the weekend to make ours. Saturday will tell us if this side is on the road to greatness or not. To be on the safe side make sure you wear your lucky shirt and don’t use the same mug or glass you had on Wednesday evening, just in case.

Good God, compo. You’re a man of iron. Finished in January is my preference.

Given the heart condition you have told us about,....is this you looking for a way out

Rangers would have to drop points for it to go to the wire this season - surely no Bear wants us to lose or draw matches (or wants that lot to win every week)? I'd much rather we wrapped the title up weeks in advance.

The compensatory control aspect is fascinating. I wonder what percentage of football fans are afflicted with it? I think superstition is nonsense but also have lucky socks, scarves, trainers and have to sit or stand with my arms crossed when Rangers take a penalty (I also refrain from gulping). Big game on Saturday. I'm hopeful Wednesday was just a bad day at the office and we'll get back to winning ways - I'd assume SG will go with our strongest side, particularly in the full back positions and in midfield.

A brilliant piece of writing! Many thanks!

When I first saw it, I disliked it. I couldn’t understand the fuss to be honest. When I saw the team run out with it on last night I disliked it even more. It doesn’t look right, we didn’t look like Rangers, they looked unfamiliar. I had a horrible feeling about it all. I Facetimed my brother just as they kicked off, he was only wearing the damn thing with a big smile on his face...”see what their wearing?” he said. “Aye, and it looks just as ridiculous on them as it does on you” I replied. Anyway, that was the worst we’ve played this season and I hope to god they never wear it again. I hate the sight of it. I wonder how many of retro tops will have been returned to the shop today? And how many are already wrapped up and under the tree already....poor kids. I hope they don’t pull that stunt for the anniversary. As John Bennet said, let’s celebrate and look forward to the next 150 years, it’s not all about the past.

I don't know if Arfield was afllcted with anything on Wednesday but it did look as though Joe Aribo was going through a bout of dissociative identity disorder. It looked like he thought he was Kyle Hutton. Not good that we still see no sign of Ryan Jack. Thanks for the entertaining preview, John ?

Compensatory control is fascinating in it's power and effect. I have watched every game this season wearing the same Gers T shirt and Sweatshirt. I steadfastly refused to launder these during that 26 match winning streak! Luckily I watch alone, so do not have to worry about my odour ridden ware impacting on other family members. Both items were unceremoniously dumped in laundry basket at the sound of full time whistle on Wednesday evening. Now the dilemma. I cannot wear these again freshly laundered. Bad juju! I know I have new Gers Sweatshirt to wear for Xmas, but we have to games before then. Possible solution? Watch the next two games in the nude. ? Thanks to @JohnMc for a great match preview!

I don’t know about that. Top of the list would be ‘sack Gerard’ to be fair ?

I'd need that if there was a winner-takes-all playoff.

WBA encapsulate the life of a yoyo club. It must be better fun for their fans when they are winning games and challenging at the top of the Championship, than watching every EPL game from behind the couch with scant hope of return. The Blades fans must be engaging in Gallows humour by now. With McBurnie and Blake playing, they´ll need it.

It's good to see a league in which the teams at the top regularly drop points and affords others a chance.

You just want to get the price against Rangers better than even money.

I think superstition is nonsense too. I don't play the lottery either, but family members will play religiously, and then extra when their hand itches or they see a black cat. Nonsense. Until it comes to Rangers, and bad juju...

Every one of my midweek predictions was right. It was the bloody teams that got it wrong. They must do better this time. ’Pool 2-0 Palace So’ton 2-0 City Everton 1-0 Gunners Magpies 2-1 Fulham Brighton 2-0 Blades Hotspur 2-2 Leicester United 3-2 Leeds Baggies 1-1 Villa Clarets 1-1 Wolves Chelsea 0-2 Hammers

So we're only allowed to comment on such things after a win? One would think that the comments on the strip would be due to the fact that it's the first time we've worn it and the result of the game had nothing to do with it. Or as you might say:

On a narrow pitch and seeing that Barisic wasn't starting, St.Mirren wisely decided to stay on top of Tav and asked Connelly to keep Bassey occupied. It helped them that Aribo was so far off the pace and Zungu is understandably, still finding his feet. The result was far less creation for us and more a congested middle of pitch, where first touch and good movement weren't at the standard needed to create many chances. It was asking a lot of Itten, given his lack of gametime thus far. Regards Morelos, given his play/first touch over recent weeks, I doubt the congested centre and lack of wide attacking threat would have suited him either. Also, I would be slightly more concerned at how far off it Aribo was. However, they didn't budget for a maurading centre-half solo run and shot but when we got ahead, it felt like we didn't know whether to stick or twist. That allowed St.Mirren back in, they had hunger, belief and it went their way. After the prolonged and intense start to the season we have had, that type of game was almost due. Looking at the team line-up, the League Cup isn't as high up SG&Co's priorities as Europe and I agree with them.

How quickly some attitudes change........It's all either fantastic or sh!te, with nothing in between. I'm almost glad no fans will be at Ibrox on Saturday, just in case we aren't ahead come HT.

Two things stood out for me. 1. Strips look so much better without sponsors splashed all over them (never going to happen) 2. The RFC monogram looks 100% better without those silly wee stars. I loved the scale of the one on the strip. It was large, bold and screamed of tradition. I genuinely hate those stars we have adopted on our famous crest. (could easily happen)

I shake my head every time our team appears and we're wearing white socks with the home shirt. The world would be a better place without white socks. I know St Mirren (and Dundee Utd) wear black socks but what's wrong with red?

Don't do it Frankie, it was our first defeat, you'll get over it.? .

Loved this match.

As long as it brings in lots of much needed income

Retro strip.......retro performance.

I remember him, when he debuted, he was called, 'Billy'. I wonder what happened to young Billy?

He will need to wear both belt and braces.

As Eric Morcambe once said to Andre Previn I am playing the right notes sunshine but not neccessarily I the right order

If United were to win their game in han they would move up to second spot could they be the dark horse in the race .

A winner takes all play off, with Kevin Clancy in the middle, and under Lawwell's Rules??

Another stocking filler from the public purse. Following their settlement with Poileas Alba, Messrs Clarke and Whitehouse won a substantial wedge, tax free, I believe, from the Lord Advocate, because "Lawyers acting for the crown......admitted much of the prosecution against Mr Clark and Mr Whitehouse had been “malicious” and conducted without “probable cause”. " Happy Christmas, chaps. The man in the Cessnock Subway might think that this was beyond incompetent, was criminal, and that prosecution ought to follow; at very least he might expect dismissals. He might consider that maintaining his confidence in the CO &PFS, would be viewed as important. The cynical among us may think that he would be wrong. David Whitehouse and Paul Clark: pair arrested in Rangers case settle claim David McCann Friday December 18 2020, 12.01am, The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/david-whitehouse-and-paul-clark-pair-arrested-in-rangers-case-settle-claim-325wqhrt8 Two business experts who were wrongfully arrested during a doomed Rangers FC fraud investigation have settled a multimillion-pound claim against Scotland’s leading law officer. David Whitehouse and Paul Clark, of Duff & Phelps, were administrators when the company that ran Rangers went into administration in 2012. Both men will receive a public apology from the lord advocate, James Wolffe, QC, in the coming weeks. The club was liquidated in October 2012 and Mr Whitehouse and Mr Clark resigned. Police arrested Mr Whitehouse and charged him with offences related to the takeover of Rangers in 2011 by Craig Whyte. Mr Clark was accused of “conspiracy and serious organised crime”. The charges against Mr Whitehouse and Mr Clark were dropped. Mr Whyte was acquitted of two charges, including taking over Rangers by fraud, in 2017. Mr Whitehouse and Mr Clark’s action claimed that there was no justification for their detention, committal or prosecution and that the crown never had sufficient evidence for any of the charges. The two won a ruling — from a specially convened bench of five judges at the Court of Session in Edinburgh last year — that the lord advocate did not have absolute immunity from a civil damages claim in such circumstances. Lawyers acting for the crown later admitted much of the prosecution against Mr Clark and Mr Whitehouse had been “malicious” and conducted without “probable cause”. The men launched a £20.8 million claim for compensation over their arrests. A case against Police Scotland was settled last month and now the pair have come to an agreement with the Crown Office. It is understood that the latest settlement is worth several million pounds each. In the previous action against Police Scotland the judge overseeing proceedings criticised the “lack of co-operation” by officers in the court case.

You won't think that after you've read it. Posted in Rangers Chat earlier, do with it as you please.

Agreed. I'm not going to judge him on cameos and especially in games were every player was way below par.

One to make people feel a wee bit better